David Boeri reports on a demonstration by members of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), outside of the offices of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston). Boeri notes that the demonstrators were advocating for more affordable housing in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. Boeri's report includes footage of Peggy Jackson (ACORN demonstrator) and Neil Sullivan (Director of housing policy for the Flynn administration) debating the administration's affordable housing policy. Boeri notes that the demonstrators demanded the deed to a vacant lot in order to develop affordable housing themselves.

David Boeri reports on the Bank of Boston's new mortgage program for lowand moderate-income city residents. Boeri's report includes footage of Ira Stepanian (President, Bank of Boston) and Robert Mahoney (Bank of Boston) announcing the new program to the media at a press conference at a Roxbury branch of the Bank of Boston. Boeri reviews the terms of the program. He notes that many houses in the area are not eligible for the program because their sale prices are too high. Boeri interviews Diana Strother (Roxbury resident), who says that many residents do not make enough money to take advantage of the program. Boeri interviews Leon Wilson (Bank of Boston) about the terms of mortgages under the program. Boeri notes that the units in the Fort Hill condominium complex are too expensive to qualify for the Bank of Boston program. Boeri interviews Alvin Wilkins (Boston resident) and Eve Moss (realtor) about housing prices in the area. Boeri also interviews Bruce Marks (Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union). Marks calls the Bank of Boston program a 'public relations scam' because it does not truly help low-income residents. Boeri's report includes shots of the Fort Hill condominium complex.

Christy George reports that poor neighborhoods lack access to banking services. George notes that banking leaders met with community leaders today to announce an agreement that will provide better banking services to poor neighborhoods. George reviews the details of the agreement, which will provide bank branches, loans, and increased investment to poor neighborhoods. George's report includes footage of the meeting of banking and community leaders. Richard Pollard (Massachusetts Bankers Association) says that redlining did not take place in the 1980s. Charles Stith (Organization for a New Equality), Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council), Willie Jones (Community Investment Coalition), John Hamill (Shawmut Bank), and Ronald Homer (Boston Bank of Commerce) all speak out in favor of the proposal. Michael Dukakis (Governor of Massachusetts) is present at the meeting. George reports that the agreement forces banks to restructure their rules in order to serve poor people. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following items: Julian Bond at Harvard University. Julian Bond. Christopher Lydon interviews Sarah Small.

Deborah Wang reports that Boston City Hospital offers a weekly Failure to Thrive Clinic for malnourished children. She notes that a team of doctors, nurses and psychologists treat the children and talk to their families. Wang reviews the symptoms and effects of malnourishment. Wang's report includes footage of health care workers treating patients at the Failure to Thrive Clinic. Wang interviews Dr. Deborah Frank (Boston City Hospital) about malnourishment and its effect on children. Frank talks about the importance of the clinic to the lives of children. The report shows Frank examining children at the clinic. Wang reports that malnourished children are often victims of poverty and that some are neglected or abused. Wang reports that 80% of children attending the clinic have stabilized or improved their condition. Wang's report includes footage of a staff meeting of clinic employees. A health care worker talks about the improved condition of one of his patients. Wang reports that there are six Failure to Thrive Clinics, but that the clinics are underfunded. She adds that some families in Boston are not yet receiving the necessary care for malnourishment. Wang's report includes footage of children at the Clinic. This tape includes additional footage of health care workers and patients at the Failure to Thrive Clinic.

Hope Kelly reports on the health care workers and patients at the Codman Square Health Center. Kelly notes that the health care workers at the Codman Square Health Center are not surprised at the rise in the infant mortality rate in Boston. She adds that many of the patients at the Center are immigrants and have no health insurance. Kelly interviews Bill Walczak (Codman Square Health Center), Dr. Tony Schlaff (head of the Codman Square Health Center), Dr. Graunke (pediatrician, Codman Square Health Center) and Cynthia Smith (head nurse, Codman Square Health Center). The four health care workers describe the challenges faced by poor women and children. Walczak says that many of the patients are in a perpetual state of crisis due to housing and transportation problems. Schlaff talks about the need for health education and pre-natal care for at-risk populations. Graunke talks about high rate of malnutrition in Codman Square. Smith talks about the rising rate of teen pregnancies. Kelly's report includes footage of health care workers and several patients at the center. Kelly's report also features footage of Dr. Graunke examining patients. Kelly notes that workers at the Center often treat children who have never received medical attention. This tape includes footage of Dr. Kenneth Edelin (Boston City Hospital), Juanita Wade (Boston School Committee), Charles Yancey (Boston City Council) and others at a press conference on the infant mortality rate. It also includes shots of newspaper articles about the rising infant mortality rate.

Hope Kelly reports on an increase in the infant mortality rate since last year. Kelly reviews statistics on the infant mortality rate in Massachusetts and in Boston. Kelly notes that there is a wide discrepancy between the infant mortality rates in the white and African American communities. Kelly reports that two out of three infant deaths in Boston are African American infants. Kelly interviews David Mulligan (Commissioner of Public Health) and Howard Spivak (Deputy Commissioner of Public Health) about the rising infant mortality rate. Kelly reports that the state of Massachusetts has implemented prenatal care programs for all pregnant women. Kelly interviews Judith Kurland (Commissioner, Boston Health and Hospitals) about the prenatal care programs. Kurland says that the programs do not reach the women who are most in need of them. Kurland says that an increase in poverty has resulted in an increase of the infant mortality rates. Kelly reviews statistics concerning teenage pregnancy in the state. Kelly notes that teenage pregnancy is becoming increasingly common. Kelly's report is accompanied by footage of infants in a hospital nursery and footage of a doctor examining a baby.

Hope Kelly reports on an alarming increase in the infant mortality rate in Boston. Kelly reviews the statistics. She notes that the infant mortality rate among African Americans is 2.5 times the infant mortality rate among whites. Kelly adds that the increase in the infant mortality rate was most pronounced in the Roxbury neighborhood. Kelly interviews Dr. Bailus Walker (Commissioner of Public Health). Walker says that the increase in the infant mortality rate is the result of a cutback in social programs from 1982 to 1984. Kelly's report includes footage of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) talking about the effects of cutbacks in social programs. Kelly notes that the state has put $15 million toward reducing the infant mortality rate. Kelly's report includes footage of Marian Wright Edelman (Director, Children's Defense Fund) at a press conference. Edelman says that the US has one of the highest infant mortality rates of any industrialized nation. Kelly notes that Boston is the home to many of the nation's top hospitals. She adds that the infant mortality rate in the city is as high as in many third world nations. Kelly's report is accompanied by footage of women, children, and health care workers at a health clinic and by footage of residents of a public housing project. The video cuts to black for 45 seconds during this story, from 00:01:34 to 00:02:15. This tape includes additional footage of health care workers, women and children at the Codman Square Health Center.

David Boeri reports on Project Mattapan, which is a community-based pre-natal care program aimed at reducing the infant mortality rate in Boston. Boeri notes that the infant mortality rate is very high in the city of Boston. He adds that the infant mortality rate in the African American community is 2.5 times the rate in the white community. Boeri interviews June Cooper (Community Health Associate) and John Ramsey (Boston Foundation) about the program. Boeri reports that Project Mattapan is a year-long project funded by the Boston Foundation. Boeri notes that the program will provide outreach to poor and uneducated women in an effort to combat premature births and low-birth weights. Boeri's report is accompanied by footage of women and health care workers at a health-care center, by footage of infants at a hospital nursery, and by footage of children at an urban playground.

Byron Rushing (State Representative) addresses a rent control demonstration outside Boston City Hall. He encourages tenants to fight for their rights, urges voters not to support anti-rent control candidates, and advocates a city-wide referendum on the issue. Pat Burns (Catholic Connection) speaks about Sojourner House, a shelter for homeless families and the Catholic Connection's support for rent. Boston City Councilors Ray Flynn, Michael McCormack, Christopher Ianella and Maura Hennigan confer in the chambers of the Boston City Council. Boston City Councilors Frederick Langone, Albert 'Dapper' O'Neil, Terence McDermott, Bruce Bolling , and Joseph Tierney are also present. The gallery of the chambers is filled with observers, many wearing pro-rent control buttons. Ianella calls the meeting to order and the clerk reads appropriation orders and requests submitted by Kevin White (Mayor, City of Boston) for the approval of the council. The council discusses and votes on orders from the mayor concerning the Public Works Department and the Public Facilities Commission. The clerk reads a request from the mayor concerning the financing of a bond for the Winthrop Printing Company. The Council conducts business on the chamber floor with Langone discussing a proposed law concerning the cleanliness of dumpsters in the city and about building affordable housing instead of high-priced condominiums.

Carmen Fields reports that the infant mortality rate in Boston's African American community is three times the rate in white communities. Fields interviews Jeanne Taylor, PhD (Roxbury Comprehensive Health Center) and David Dolin (Executive Vice President, Beth Israel Hospital)) about the partnership between the two facilities and the rising infant mortality rate in Boston. Dolin says that the high infant mortality rate is a social problem involving health, education, housing, employment, and crime. He adds that advances must be made in all of those areas in order to combat the high infant mortality rate in Boston. Taylor talks about the role of community health centers and the benefits of relationships between community health centers and large hospitals. Taylor says that the infant mortality rate is only one indicator of distress in the African American community. Fields reports that the concept of linkage is being applied to health care through the partnerships between the large and small medical facilities. Fields's report includes footage of infants being cared for in the nursery of a health facility.